Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I've been a VIB for a few years now, and my local Sephora is within walking distance of that "other" brand. I've heard rave reviews about their rewards program, most especially about their generous giving of free product with each new level reached and not samplers.

Today, I headed to my Sephora store for the VIB event, got my bag loaded up, and then...went to Ulta. I was actually there to get a tube of NYX lip gloss since I've heard so much about it, but I went through the whole store out of pure curiosity.

The verdict? While Ulta does carry drugstore brands and their rewards are pretty lofty in comparison...Sephora has my heart. Ulta felt too "superstore-ish". No offense, but a little...below...the standard and prestige of Sephora.

So, Sephora, heed our call! Amp up our VIB rewards. Tidy up the shelves and demos in your stores (our store is a tad lacking in that dept.). And, keep up the great work! = )

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

Sephora has my heart. Ulta has drugstores items and its pretty cheap with a sale and coupon. Plus they carry Real Technique brushes. Their customer service isn't the best and I don't what it is, but everytime I walk into an Ulta, I don't feel like I'm in a makeup place, a place where it makes me happy.

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I looked up some reviews online about past workers experience there and....O.O

Lets not be too hard on ulta. One person said that they dont get their schedules until the day before so you cant make plans in advance ever, and another said that the managers hog all the gratis to themselves (the sales people are supposed to get those so that they can use them and give customers better recommendations when it comes to products.) And thats just a couple of things. There's so many horror stories that its no wonder the sales people arent always in a good mood.

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I hardly ever go to Ulta but I still get 20% coupons all the time not a couple times a year and I def don't have to spend $350 per year to get them! After going to my local sephora today for the VIB sale and seeing the bag of samples and then they were out of the one product I was considering, I have decided I am taking a step back from Sephora :-( My Sephora and Ulta are constantly out of the products I want to purchase and my Ulta is a bit further away so I don't go there as often. I have found myself turning to MAC more than either of the two. I do like that Ulta also has free gift with purchase many times with there higher end cosmetics. My Sephora inside JCP never has samples, never have the current point perks and here lately never have stock....... I went in today and didn't even purchase one thing......please sephora step up the perks for VIB and keep more stock!! Also my store has hardly any selection with brands........

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I definitely prefer Sephora to Ulta when it comes to purchasing cosmetics and skincare. I do love Ulta for the Benefit Brow Bar and the great deals their salon has on cuts and coloring though.

It makes a huge difference which Ulta you go to though as to how your experience will be. I never go to the Ulta in Papillion, NE anymore. They are so rude there it's unbelievable! After several bad visits I gave up and stopped going. The Ulta just over the river in Council Bluffs, IA though is fantastic!

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I tend to just go to Ulta these days for the Benefit Brow Bar to get my brows done every so often, but might be trying to find someone else. The woman that did my brows before left for a better job elsewhere and the one that replaced her...not so pleasant.

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I went to ULTA today actually and got some awesome all natural stuffs there on sale for a fantastic price. My beef? One of the sale items rung up full price, and when I noticed it, the cashier didnt apologize, she actually looked like she wanted to give me attitude. What is that about? I just nicely showed her the receipt and pointed out that one of the items was rung up wrong. >_<

I really only go to ulta for ecotools brushes, real techniques brushes, and cargo makeup. The drugstore stuff costs SOOO much more there than at places like Walmart and Target, so unless you have a coupon, they dont save me any money in the drugstore department.

I dont care about their coupons anymore, because my local grocery store always always has good coupons out right by the item, and Target frequently has stuff on sale.

Here's my other beef with ULTA: I use a specific sunscreen, and all the ones they carried expired in 12/12. I told them, and asked them TWICE, to please remove those expired ones and order new ones. They were nice and sweet and apologized, and said they would order new ones. Every SINGLE time I come back to buy that sunscreen, its the EXACT same expired ones as last time. So forget it. I get my sunscreen now at CVS, where it costs a bit more, but its worth it to me because I get better customer service.

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I am in that same boat as you are! Though Ulta carries drugstore brands, more haircare products, and is nice enough to give you coupons every so often, they just don't hold a candle to our beloved Sephora! Not to mention the fact that I feel as though the sales associates at Sephora are more knowledgeable and willing to help customers than Ulta.. but that could just be a problem with my local store.

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

Sephora will always be my favorite. To me, makeup is a form of art- I love playing with different colors, mediums and textures. In the same way, going in to Sephora's store and getting to experiment, try samples, and talk with beauty advisors is always a pleasure! 9 times out of 10, the Sephora employees know their products, can recommend things they like, and can show you how to apply makeup with different techniques. I've always gotten the impression that Ulta employees are there to stock and talk to their coworkers... they never seem to like to be interrupted for questions and frankly, don't seem to enjoy makeup. I go to Ulta for drugstore brands and sometimes hair products and that is all.

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I love Sephora! Ulta to me is only good for buying things I cant find at Sephora! haha! I also agree with @mommyto4 with the fine print! if they give you a 20% off discount, it is only for drugstore brands! (which are no more than $12) I haven't really seen any "perks" like I do at sephora! and i haven't heard of them having any events!

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

Not to mention their rewards have been changed in certain markets to essentially 3% back. No free products for those of us in those markets (ugh). And the points expire unless you're an upper tier elite.

Nails are a major strength at Ulta, as well as having a salon in-store. You can't beat some of their gift with purchases- especially around the holidays.

That said, I'm more likely to rush in and out of Ulta but love to stay and play at Sephora.

Re: Sephora vs. Ulta - The Verdict

I LOOOVE Sephora. I have been to Ulta a couple of times but only for items I can't get at Sephora or Target. But that is pretty rare. I love Target for anything drugstore and I get 5% off with my RedCard all the time. I really don't like Ulta's coupons and what they can be used on. Too much fine print! I also don't really care a whole lot about samples. They are fine but I have a drawer full of them. I love that I can go to Sephora and ask for a certain product as a sample as opposed to whatever they have in a little foil pack anywhere else. I have run into a couple of bad seeds at one Sephora, mostly just snotty but I understand that these are just people. They are just not good representations of the company I love, and every store has them. Sephora is absolutely fun to shop at and I can't imagine what they would do that would make me quit shopping with them.